National Republican., 1887-11-02
THE NORTHWEST FAVORED.
DIFFICULT TO SEE THE TRUTH OF
THE COMMISSIONERS DENIAL.
The Conn mmittee Find Inconsistenoies In
Their wster Rents and
Water Taxes Must be Kept in Sep.
arato Funds According TO Law.

There was very full meeting Of the Citi.
zens' Representative Committee Of One
Hundred at Grand Army Hall last evening
w. G. Dodge presided, and Mr.. Lawrence
Gardner secretary.
The following amendment TO the rules,
having been offered at q former meeting,
was adopted:
SEC. 0. The reports Of standing subcommit-
tees requiring the appointment OF an execu-
tive committee shall lie over TO the next meet
Ing SAID are made and Pe
of the committee on schools was called for. A
resolution from association No. 8, respecting
the gIantingo Of LIQUOR licenses near @ the public
reported 1t back, and recommended In lieu
thereof the adoption OF the following substl.
Resolred, That the action OF the commission.
ers of this District IN guarding the approaches
to the public schools from liquor saloons meets
with our hearty approval, bit M i is respectfully
tended asto prohibit the granting OF liquor
licenses to any. saloon located or proposed to
be located on the same side OF square upon
which public school is situated, or upon the
side OF n square opposite thereto or TO any
saloon located upon any Of the nearest corners
OF either Of the next adjoining squares.
Noble d. Larner, as chairman OF the com
mittee on streets and avenues, presented
only for the associations information aud
not for its action. The report opened by
stating that their estimate for improvements
for the next year, made on Sept. j, was
81 ,000, 900 for certain specified work. This
report, being presented to the commits
sionere, was met with an answer that the
cost Of improving the streets mentioned
in the schedule would be $2,69O,2lS
instead of 81 100000. The committee feel
ing confident that their figures were nearer
correct than those of the commissioners,
and that the ''enormous estimate had been
hastily prepared and hurrledly presented to
the public to cast doubts npon the ability
| III nothing more) Of tho committee to make
an estimate," they at once set about the
suit Of this was that the committee felt
confidence In their estimate.
In order to make this investigation the
committee secured an official copy OF the
commissioners table Of detailed estimates,
in which was set forth the number OF yards
contained in each street, and other valua.
BILE information. They also secured an
siopers made some months ago for the
improvement Of some Of the same
streets and avenues. The comparison
between these statements showed glaring
inconsistencies. In various instances In the
estimate gotten up to antagonize the com
mittee "street crossings had been counted
twice, and In some instances three times,
grading, &c., to be DONE" Detailed In
stances were cited from the two statements
showing these discrepancies, and In few
| streets amounting TO 40 per cent. The
committees report further charged
that In the commissioners report
the number Of square yards con-
tanned in certain areas was erroneous
| 70 In M
Then "the commissioners figures" con-
tinued the report, were based on an esti.
| mated cost for grading OF 40 cents per cubic
| yard, when we think 25 cents would be
more than ample; then again, GO cents per
| yard for graveling is certainly beyond any
possible cost Of the work considering the
proximity Of large deposits Of gravel ac-
| cessible to everyone"
The report stated that the official esti.
\ mates Of the commissioners further show
that S4 per cent. Of the asphalt Of the city
| Is In the northwest section OF the city, and
| that "A per cent. Of the total unimproved
streets and avenues were situated In the
northeast, southeast, and southwest sec.
tions, leaving only 25 per cent. totally un.
improved streets for the northwest and
| Georgetown combined. In view Of these
facts the committee found 1t difficult to
| see the truth in the commissioners denial
Of favoritlsm In northwest improvements,
they (the commissioners) having been
quoted in the press as saying the north
west had only received 81 per cent. OF the
improvements.
w. Ii. Singleton, as chairman of the com
mittee on water supply and sewerage, rem
dered very lengthy report, which ended
with the following conclusions:
First. That our municipal authorities fol
i many years past have made no distinction be-
| tween water rentals" and water aSeS' WIN
Iegerd to the disposition of moneys raised
Second. Such construction has been orrone.
Gus and contrary TO express law, which plsi-
| lively directs each tuud to be separate and ioI
its own peculiar uses
Third. There has been in the "water rentals
no increase of such, but a change which ha
Fourth. The law requires that "watel
rentals shall pay the interest upon our share
OF the expense of the increased water sup
Flnh. 1t does not require that the watei
rentals must pay the principal. but
Sixth Tho law does require that .principa
as well as interest must be paid by the waite
| revenues.
In conclusion. your committee would aval
themselves OF the opportunity to state thei
qualification at the facility, for investigation
| the patient Efforts, and the full and free oppor
| tunity ior,seGrch which has been extended L
them by the employees Of the wnter depart
ment, but more especially by Col; Ludlow
who has given very much time and labor t
this matter. SO as to personally sec to 1t tina
your committee should obtain each and ever
fact they desired TO have illumed. and ou
thanks are publicly expressed for his courteol
and hearty cooperation in this investigation
An excellent report was rendered by Mr.
II. $. Biscoe, chairman of the committee o
harbGrs and wharves. The committee rec
commended that Congress be petitioned t,
grant an appropriation sufficient to make
survey of the Eastern Branch from th
navy yard bridge to deep water at tn
arsenal end to run harbor lines betwee
these points, contemplating channel a
least 400 feet in width aud 20 feet deep, 8
as to permit access to the navy yard b
large vessels when occasion may require
The further dredging Of the WashiDgto
channel was also urged.
The report was ordered printed.
w. j. Frizzell, chairman of the sui
committee on roads and bridges, reporte
that at present no great amount OF none
should be expended in making new road
until the lasting qualities of those latel
constructed on highly scientific principle
should be tested. The committee approve
the estimates of the commissioners fo
county improvements. The report wa
ordered to be printed. The committe
| tban a1 iOurua1